Chap 6 part 4

"Thank you for your compassion Miss Elizabeth. But please do not weep in such a way. I might be a monster but I do not wish to cause angels to cry for to me it seems a grievance crime."

Hearing Peter's words made Elizabeth drop the bloody towel to the floor. Did he really just call her such a thing? She laughed slightly through her tears as she grasped her friend's hand in hers, gripping it tightly.

"I am sorry, but I am no angel, Peter." The man let out a laugh more pitiful then hers exclaiming,

"But it is impossible that you were born of the miserable human race. Your compassion far exceeds their capabilities."

Peter gently pulled her hand to his lips and placed the lightest of kisses on it, the lightest touch despite the excitement in his voice. And as her pulled away he asked,

"Is there no way I could dispense your sorrow?"

Elizabeth used the back of her free hand wiping away the salty drops from her cheeks as she took a deep breath calming herself. It was then she remembered her original purpose of coming here. She wiped her reddened hand on her skirt and pulled the flute from her pocket.

"If you promise to play this for me once you are healed." As she did this she gently placed the flute into his hand pulling away hers. The man's eyes widened for only a moment before stuttering,

" I didn't think you-"

" Of course," said Elizabeth interrupting, knowing what Peter was going to say," I said I would get it, did I not?" Peter lowered his head looking down as the instrument in his hand.

" I suppose I should not be surprised," he said coughing harshly.

Elizabeth quickly grabbed the water skin and said gently,

"If you could sit up it would be easier to drink." The man nodded and with his friend's help he slowly raised himself into a sitting position. After he placed the flute on the ground Elizabeth held the skin at the bottom as Peter grasped the top of the water skin, and slowly he lifted it to his lips trying not to let the dizziness overtake him. The woman placed her other hand on his shoulder helping to steady him.

Peter drank deeply enjoying the feel of the cool water rushing down his parched throat. But even more so he couldn't get over the feeling of Elizabeth's hand touching him so freely without fear. Afterwards the woman picked up the rag from the floor and placed it back in the bowl. She wrung it little asking,

"If you can stay sitting I can keep working." The man nodded carefully placing the flute on the floor. Elizabeth began where she left off, in the middle of his back, working in silence down the ragged pants her friend wore.

"Can you turn around?" asked the woman softly breaking the momentary silence. The man simply nodded once more. He braced himself with one arm as Elizabeth gently held his shoulders and moving slowly they helped him shift as to not further hurt his bad leg.

After checking to sure he was steady Elizabeth started working over her friend's chest starting at his shoulders. Once again she couldn't help but notice the stitched skin showing different tones where he had been patched together. But it didn't bother her. She knew even if he was a creature, he was a creature with a kind soul at the core of his being.

In only a few moments time she finished and placing the towel in the bowl she pulled out the bandages. She found herself biting her lip once more. She had definitely never done this before.

"Where do I start with this?" She asked nervously. Peter smiled.

"I have never done it myself but perhaps around here," he said pointing to the top of his chest.

Elizabeth nodded relaxing a little in the knowledge that he had never worked with such supplies either. She tied a small piece over his chest and wrapped, trying to make sure it was tight but not constricting.

"This doesn't feel too tight?" Peter shook his head.

"It's perfect." He said, a small smile playing across his features. Elizabeth smiled back fully feeling the room get warmer all of the sudden. As soon as she was finished the man picked up the flute again, the dizziness finally gone. Now only pain remained, but that he could deal with fine at this point.

"Thank you again Miss Elizabeth. You are too kind."

"Please just call me Elizabeth. If we're to be friends then you mustn't be so formal."

The man felt a blush creep into his cheeks.

"Of course…Elizabeth." As he said this the woman started gathering the supplies. Her smile grew even wider.

"I just need to put these things back and we can get you back to your room. I assume you do not want to stay here tonight. Do you think you could work with me to walk there?"

"For you I could." Said Peter sweetly as he sat up a bit straighter.

"I'll be right back then."The woman picked up the supplies and walked out the door leaving it carelessly open.

For only a split second did Peter dare think that he could just walk out behind her. The open door was a chance of escape he might never have again. But could he really leave the only person who had shown him some form of compassion? It seemed meant nothing now if he had this. He had gotten the only thing he had ever asked by turning himself into his father. Part of him even said that this was worth the torture; that it was worth the dark prison.

He couldn't leave, he declared to himself, for only in a matter of mere days Elizabeth had changed him. Smiling in spite of himself Peter picked up the flute, gently placing it to his lips.

A single note echoed throughout the dungeon-like room and for a moment warmed up the wretched atmosphere surrounding him.

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Authors note:

Sorry I haven't written in forever but college keeps me busy. I do work this story in my journal and it's just finding the time to type it out that took a while. But for this chapter I found myself rewriting it 3 times because it's really sort of an important part of the story.

Thank you so much to my readers for your patience with me and especially to ColeAndPhoebeForever who always gives such awesome reviews.*hugs* BTW I have been reading over the original novel for referencing because I want this story to be as true to the novel as possible. Thanks for noting that!

I also want to thank Aishiteru for reviewing because your review was the motivation to finish up this chapter. You rock! I hope that if you like my story that you'll look at the other Frankenstein stories. Many of them make mine look like nothing. "Creature and the Maiden", "Curse the Darkness", "The Monster I Love", and "The love of a monster" are my favorites.